An On-Line Tutorial prepared by Randy Hanzlick, MD
Copyright 1996. All Rights Reserved

Basic Principles Tutorial

QuickTips on writing cause-of-death statements

Special tutorials on selected types of death

NOTE: The cause-of-death statements shown as examples have been written using Tables that mimic the appearance of the U.S. Standard Death Certificate. If your Web Browser does not support Tables, the cause-of-death statements may appear as text only and may be slightly difficult to read, have wrapped-around text, or appear slightly disorganized.

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) has published a manual which includes examples for many types of death.  "Cause of Death and the Death Certificate (2006)" may be ordered from the CAP Publications Department at:

Phone: 1-800-323-4040 option 1#
Item number: PUB215
Softcover; 244 pages; 2006.
Member price: $35
Non-member price: $40

NOTE: Randy  Hanzlick does not receive royalties from sales of  the CAP Publication.

The National Center for Health Statistics also has an instruction manual available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/misc/hb_cod.pdf
A handbook for medical examiners and coroners is also available from NCHS at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/misc/hb_me.pdf